Territory



(N0 Mbdel.)

P. MILROY.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

. 371,147; 5 Patnted Oct. 4, 1887.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER MILROY, OF JERAULD COUNTY, DAKOTA TERRITORY.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 371,147, dated October4, 1887.

Application filed May 28, 1885. Serial No- 167,l03. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, PETER MILRoY, a citizen of the United States,residing in the county of Jerauld and Territory of Dakota, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in DangerSignals for Railways, &c.,of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description aswill enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

The invention relates to electrical dangersignals wherein electriclights are arranged at short distances from each other between stations,and when illuminated serve as danger signals.

The object of my invention is for the greater safety of life andproperty in railway travel and traffic. It is organized so that stationagents and operators may thereby be enabled to notify the occupants ofthe trains running between stations of their immediate danger from suchcauses as impending collisions, washouts, broken bridges, 810., comingto their knowledge after said trains have left their stations.

The invention consists in details of construction and arrangement, to behereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my invention, showing a diagramof the circuits; and Fig. 2, a view of the same when in operation,showing the lamps illuminated and the way in which the circuits arecompleted at a station.

In the two figures of the drawings the same letters and figures refer tothe same parts.

1 designates a main-line circuit extending along a railway and chargedby electricity. This circuit is charged by two main batteries, M B and MB, with their like poles to line. The circuit 1 is grounded at each endof the line at G G, so as to provide a return-circuit by way of theearth.

2 is a main line also, extending between stations by side of the circuit1, and contains therein electric lights arranged at eighty rods from oneanother. This distance may be varied according to the uneven or levelground through which the railway passes. The lights should be placed insuch position that they may readily be seen by occupants of trains, andshould for this purpose be suspended high in the air. The circuits 1 2may be carried overhead on poles or arranged in any manner foundconvenient. The lights may be provided with colored globes, ifnecessary, to make them more conspicuous. Incandescent or are lamps maybe used at pleasure, and the electricity for charging the line 1 begenerated by any of the methods in use. The wires of the circuit shouldbe strongly insulated.

In the drawings I have shown two stations, A and B, at each of which isprovided a switchboard, designed for use for the above purpose.

Before describing the switch-board it will be understood that the line 2is grounded at each end of the road, the same as line 1.

Fig. 1 represents the normal position and arrangement when not in use.The circuit of the line 1 is normally completed between two metallicplates by a switch-plug, A. The sections or branches of the line 2 arealso connected with two similar metallic plates, which are grounded by aplate through the switch-plugs E F. The switch-board is also providedwith means, 13 D, for coupling the two sets of similar plates together,as shown in the drawings. In this normal position of parts the circuitof the main line l is completed from station to station to the end ofthe line, and the batteries M B and M B oppose each other, andconsequently cause no loss of electrical energy when the same is notneeded, as is well known by electricians, the one battery re-enforcingthe other and causing no wasteful loss.

Fig. 2 represents the apparatus when in use, illustrating the conditionof affairs when sending a signal in both directions from station A. Inthis case the switch-plug A is withdrawn, as well as the plugs E and F,and connection is made at B l) by switch-plugs. The drawings show theplugs in the switch-boards connecting the different circuits. Thiscompletes the circuit of the battery M B by way of the switch-plug B tothe line 2 to the left, and also the circuit of battery M B through theswitch-plug D to the right-hand side of line 2, lighting the lamps inboth directions, and thus notifying trains approaching in eitherdirection that there is danger ahead. It will be obvious that the lightsupon either side alone may be illuminated by this means, or

that they may be illuminated on both sides of station A, as described.The direction of the current is represented by arrows in Fig. 2. Theoperator at station B may also illuminate the lights in either or bothdirections by pursuing the same course. When the cause for displayingthe danger-signal is removed, the switch-plugs are placed in theposition shown in Fig. 1. Itwill be observed that the switchplugs ateach station only have to be manipulated to display the danger-signal,and that v tric lamps therein located at different points of the route,and a switch-board with groundconnections at the stations for completingthe circuit of the oppositely-charged line through any desired lamp orseries of lamps, for the purpose set forth.

2. An electrical danger-signaling system for railroads and the like,consisting of a charged circuit, 1, grounded at each end of the line, agrounded switch-board, as A B D E F, made and constructed as shown anddescribed, and a line, 2, extending between stations, normally groundedat the switch-boards A B D E F, containing electric lights therein atsuitable distances apart, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

PETER MILROY. [n s.]

\Vitnesscs:

EDWARD F. MAKEMsoN, FRANK. W. XVHITNEY.

